State Senate: Democratic majority
State House: Democratic majority
Governor: Tina Kotek (D)
Attorney General: Ellen Rosenblum (D)

Summary:

As of 2024, the Oregon Legislature is controlled by the Democratic Party, although with somewhat narrow margins. The Oregon Senate consists of 17 Democrats and 12 Republicans, with one seat being held by an Independent. The Oregon House of Representatives is made up of 35 Democrats and 25 Republicans. This Democratic control reflects the state’s recent history, as Oregon has maintained a Democratic trifecta—control of both legislative chambers and the governorship—for several years. However, recent elections have shown a more competitive environment, particularly in the House where Republicans gained a few seats.

The legislature recently passed SB 1571, a law to require a disclosure of the use of AI or other similar technology in campaign ads. Other bills recently introduced include measures relating to school libraries and curricula and preventing vaccine passports. Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum has developed a particular focus on combating so-called “hate speech” which can often be a precursor to censorship.

Key Policymakers:

• Sen. Aaron Woods [D], Sen. James Manning [D], Sen. Sara Gelser Blouin [D]
• Rep. Courtney Neron [D]

Legislative Activity:

SB 1583: Prohibits a district school board, committee, or administrator from denying the use of textbooks, instructional materials, program materials, or library books on the basis that the materials include a perspective, study, or story of, or are created by, any individual or group against whom discrimination is prohibited. Democrat-only bill introduced by Sen. Lew Frederick [D] and Rep. Tawna Sanchez [D], and passed the Senate on a party-line vote on Feb. 27, 2024. 

SB 813: Prohibits public bodies and private entities from requiring a person to receive COVID-19 vaccination or to possess COVID-19 immunity passport, immunity pass or other evidence certifying COVID-19 vaccination or immunity status. Prohibits public bodies and private entities from discriminating against any person based on nonreceipt of COVID-19 vaccination or failure to possess COVID-19 immunity passport, immunity pass or other evidence certifying vaccination or immunity status. Prohibits public bodies and private entities from interfering with certain rights on account of risks presented by COVID-19 pandemic. Introduced for the third year in a row by Sen. Dennis Linthicum [R] but has not progressed. 

SB 1571 (Signed into Law): This law will require a disclosure of the use of AI or other similar technology in campaign ads and creates a way to enforce the requirement and to impose a fine for violations. Introduced by Sen. Aaron Woods [D], Sen. James Manning [D], Sen. Sara Gelser Blouin [D], and Rep. Courtney Neron [D], passed both chambers with large bipartisan majorities, and signed into law on March 27, 2024. 

HB 2475: Prohibits public institution of education or educational employee from requiring, compelling, coercing or otherwise directing student to acknowledge, affirm, declare, confess, state or in any way act in accordance with belief that any race, ethnicity, color, sex, gender, religion or national origin is inherently superior or inferior to another, that individual may be discriminated against or treated in different manner on basis of individual’s membership in particular group or classification, or that any individual, by virtue of individual’s membership in particular group or classification, endorses, benefits uniquely from or is inherently responsible for actions that other individuals with membership in same group or classification have taken.Prohibits public institution of education from providing, withholding or conditioning grading, academic credit or other educational benefits on basis of student’s compliance with prohibited actions. Prohibits distinguishing between, classifying or assigning benefits or detriments to a student on the basis of student’s membership in a particular group or classification. Introduced by Rep. Kimberly Wallan [R],Rep. Tracy Cramer [R], and Rep. Boomer Wright [R] in Jan. 2023 but did not progress.

Legal Actions:

AG Rosenblum Announces Task Force on Hate Crimes. On May 23, 2018, Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum announced the members of an Attorney General’s task force that will study hate-motivated crimes. Created between legislative sessions, the task force will review existing legal protections for victims of hate crimes and to make proposals to the legislature for strengthening Oregon’s laws. The task force will also look into whether law enforcement have the tools they need to investigate and combat these behaviors.